Also filing candidacy papers by the 5 p.m. deadline Monday were incumbents Robert Russell for mayor, Shari Dunham for city clerk and Oscar Kohlman for treasurer.

Because there is no race among party candidates, such as two Republicans or two Democrats seeking the same seat, the city does not need a primary.

“Even if there are write-in candidates who file, a primary will not be needed,” said County Clerk Kristy Masching, who stated the State Board of Elections concurred with her reading of the election law.

Write-in candidates, who would have to file as an independent, have until Dec. 27 to file candidacy forms. They would then appear on the April 9 ballot.

City officials were considering whether to re-introduce the sales tax increase proposition as a referendum on the February ballot.

The city’s referendum was not defeated by a wide margin in November and council members discussed a second attempt at passage. Officials were hoping to increase the city’s sales tax on general merchandise from the current 6.25 to 6.75 percent and thereby rebate some property tax money. City officials were hoping not to put the question on the April ballot, which most likely will contain a similar question by county schools hoping to increase the countywide general sales tax 1 percent, from 6.25 to 7.25 percent, for use on school buildings.

Masching said that if there had been a need for the Feb. 26 primary, the proposition could have been added to the ballots. However, the city could still put that question solely before the voters of Pontiac, but the city would then incur the costs.

The county clerk stated the county’s election vendor put the cost of such an election at around $7,000 for Pontiac’s 10 precincts.

City Administrator Bob Karls said at the prior council meeting it did not appear many council members were in favor of having an election just for the sales tax question.

“However, that will be something discussed at Monday night’s meeting,” he added.

Pontiac is the only county municipality that has a partisan primary election for city offices.

Most other communities have candidates file independent petitions for candidacy or hold a party caucus.